It ticks me off

All last year I heard what a horrible year 2012 would be for ticks and fleas because of the preceding mild winter.

Ironically, I never found a tick on myself all summer, despite spending plenty of time outdoors fishing and pursuing other activities, often in shorts and a t-shirt. Believe me, I checked.

So it came as somewhat of a shock when I found ticks a couple of times after hunting trips in November, when the weather was colder and I was more heavily covered.

Now the warm weather is here again and with it increased concern about the prevalence of ticks and the spread of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases.

Just a few days ago, I was out chasing down the story that a dead body had been found along Newtown Creek in Elmira. One of my colleagues was also on-site taking pictures, and she later informed me that she found a tick on her person, despite doing nothing more than walking along the dike.

Needless to say I checked myself and my clothing over carefully later.

I hope to be out turkey hunting this weekend and even though I will once again be dressed head to foot, I plan on spraying myself down with a good bug repellent.

By the way, speaking of ticks and Lyme disease, the annual Lyme Walk, sponsored by AHope4Lyme, will take place this Saturday at Chapel Park in Pine City. Registration starts at 10 a.m. and the walk will begin at 11.

Go to www.ahope4lyme.org for more information.

And keep your eyes open for unwanted stowaways this summer!

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About Jeff

Join me on my hunting and fishing adventures around the Southern Tier of New York and occasionally other states. I am a writer with the Star-Gazette and when I'm not working, I am often enjoying the Great Outdoors with a shotgun, rifle or fishing rod in my hands. I look forward to hearing from readers.

4 comments on “It ticks me off”

Your article was sent to me from a mutual friend and I thought I would comment about the ticks.. I fought ticks on my dog all winter long and once on myself last winter.. Frontline did not appear to be helping so I switched to k9 advantix which has worked wonderful for the dogs !!! No ticks on them since I started using it… Can’t same the same for me . This morning at 3am after taking my dog out I returned to bed , thinking I would get some sleep after a few minutes I felt a terrible burning on my stomach. Nothing I had ever felt before and could not imagine what the terrible pain was . Finally I looked and there was a tiny black tick burrowing in. I immediately removed it , hoping I got it all cleaned the area with peroxide and applied bacitracin. I am still concerned about it because it was so different from the first tick bite .. My sons find it hard to believe that they hunt and fish all the time and never have ticks on them.. I don’t know what the answer is but I guess the dogs can carry them in the house even if they don’t attach themselves .

Ken, I spent about three hours turkey hunting Saturday and I sprayed myself well before going in, and checked myself over carefully on the way out…no ticks that I found. I went fishing later in the day and I repeated the process. Again, didn’t find any ticks. Victoria, thanks for the tip. I’ll have to check GM tick repellent out.